Terms to Know:

To cut out wordiness, I have decided to name the webbed area between the fingers. 

• Slot 1 is between the thumb and index fingers.
• Slot 2 is between the index and middle fingers.
• Slot 3 is between the middle and ring fingers.
• Slot 4 is between the ring and little fingers.

Right and left hands will be denoted by a capital R or L after the slot number.  For example, 1R is between the thumb and index finger of the right hand.

Directions:

1. Separate a lock of hair from the rest of the hair at the place where you want to begin the braid.
2. Put the lock of hair in your left hand.
3. Insert the index and middle finger of your right hand through the lock, going from underneath to the surface, separating the lock into three strands.
4. Use your left hand to separate the strands out to the end of the hair.

Directions:

1. Separate a lock of hair from the rest of the hair at the place where you want to begin the braid.

2. Divide the lock into three strands.

5. Grasp the right and middle strands in your right hand, palm down (right strand in 3R, middle in 1R.)  Hold the left strand in your left hand.
6. Turn your right hand palm up and put the strand from 3R in 3L.

3. Cross the right-hand strand under the middle strand.

7. Juggle the strands so that your left palm is down and the left-hand strand positions are reversed.
8. Rotate your left hand palm up so the strand is brought beneath the one in the middle.
9. Put the strand in your right hand into 4L.

4. Cross the left-hand strand under the middle strand.

10. Collect a section of hair from the head and add it to the strand in 4L.
11. Turn your right hand palm down and move the strand from 4L to 3R, and the strand from 2L to 1R.

5. Pick up a section of hair from the right side of the head and add the section to the strand which is CURRENTLY on the right side.
   Note: After adding the section to the strand, make sure to separate the section from the rest of the hair.  If this note confuses you, pretend it doesn't exist and keep going.  If it doesn't confuse you, do the same after step 7.

12. Rotate your right hand palm up.
13. Move the strand from your left hand to 4R.

6. Cross the right-hand strand under the middle strand.

14. Gather another section of hair from the head and add it to 4R.
15. Turn your left hand palm down and move the strand from 4R to 2L and from 2R to 1L.
16. Repeat instructions 8-15 to base of scalp, then continue with a simple 3-strand braid, braiding under rather than over.

7. Pick up a section of hair from the left side of the head and add it to the strand which is CURRENTLY on the left side.

8. Cross the left-hand strand under the middle strand.

17. Tie off the braid.

Want to see an example of a 9-strand dutch braid?

8. Repeat instructions 5-8 until you reach the base of the scalp, then continue pattern (as for basic braid) to the end of the hair.

9. Tie off the end.